Crab & Butternut Squash Bisque- Gratin Style

A recipe of my own devising that turned out great.
2 medium butternut squashes
1 lb. lump crab meat
1/2 large onion (chopped)
1 head of garlic
6 tbls. Cream cheese
2-3 tbls. Olive oil

Dozen strands of saffron (optional)

• Halve squashes and place face down on sheet pan with 1/4 inch of water in the pan. Roast for 45 min to one hour, until soft (can be done well in advance).
• Sauté onion in olive oil until translucent and starting to brown. Add garlic (diced or put through garlic press). After a few minutes add squash (scraping the squash out of the skins) and the saffron. Mix until combined.
• Add cream cheese and continue to cook/mix until hot and fully combined.
• Add crab, mix until combined. Put into casserole dish ( I actually did my sautéing in a cast iron skillet so I left it in there instead) and put into 300 degree oven for one hour. You could probably add some shredded Parmesan cheese to the top too. Eat with salt, pepper, and tabasco or hot sauce of your choice

New Year's Resolutions: Minnesota Style

Minnesota is a state rich in natural and cultural beauty, brimming with so many places to go, things to see, and people to visit that it's hard to squeeze it all in. If I had a dollar for every time I muttered "I want to see that" to a billboard or an add in the paper or magazine... and then not followed through, I'd have enough money to pay for the first thing on my ten eleven things I want to do in Minnesota in 2013:

1. Eat at La Belle Vie: It is possible that I am the only foodie in Minneapolis who hasn't been to our most acclaimed and highest rated restaurant. I will fix that this year and let you all know if it's worth the hype.
2. See China's Terracotta Warriors at the Minnesota Museum of Arts: Seriously, the Terracotta Warriors are here!!! In Minneapolis!!! Only till the end of January!!!
3. Explore the Hmong Market in St. Paul: St. Paul has the largest concentration of the East Asian Hmong group than anywhere in the world... and a place to experience the culture and food.
4. Tour a Minnesota Brewery: There are so many to choose from now, it's hard to pick one. Maybe I'll have to hit a few. And then take a field-trip to Wisconsin for a few more.
5. See an outdoor Movie or Show: Minneapolis, and many of the suburbs, have a fantastic lineup of outdoor entertainment, including the very popular showing of the Twins World Series winning games in '87 and '91.
6. Food Truck Gourmet Meal: Take an afternoon off, head downtown, and sample my way through a few of the mobile eateries.
7. Historic Minnesota Tour: Do one of the Minnesota Historical Society tours (preferable one of their historical pub crawls!)
8. Do the Zoo: I've lived in MN for over 12 years and still haven't visited the Minnesota Zoo. I love animals and need to see the Polar Bears Penguins this year.
9. Classic Date: I played the violin for 10 years and dabble on the strings from time to time and really enjoy a good concerto. Hopefully the musicians' labor dispute is resolved so I can go support the Minneapolis Orchestra.
10. Embrace Winter: Do a winter activity, outside, rather than just hibernating. Learn to snowshoe, cross-country ski, see an ice castle, attend an outdoor beer festival, just do something outside.
11. Throw it in Park: There are nearly 80 state parks in Minnesota; I've been to one. Me and my dogs or bike need to take a day trip to visit one of these local treasures.

What's your favorite Minnesota experience? I'd love to add to my list!

2012 52 Recipe Challenge

We've gotten into a food rut and our way to break out of it is to make 52 new recipes in one year.

Liege Waffles * German Dijon Chicken * Stuffed Calamari Chicken Marsala * Sally Lunn Bread  Beer Braised Pot Roast - Paves vu Mail (Pan Braised Steak in Mustard Sauce) * Cajun Chicken Pasta * Italian Sweet and Sour Chicken * Dulce de Leche Ice Cream Tuscan Lamb Shanks with White Beans * Spicy Whiskey BBQ Sliders * Grilled Panzanella Salad * German Style Grilled Pork Tenderloin Amaretto Ice Cream * Caponata * Chocolate Chip Bread Scalloped Squash, Corn, and Red Pepper Gratin Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter Ice Cream Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing * Jack and Coke Slow Cooked Beef * Chili Dusted Kale Chips - Mesclun and Fresh Herb with Goat Cheese Salad - Porterhouse Steaks with Arugula and Parmesan Cheese * Cucumber Salad * Savory Corn Bread Alabama Pulled Pig - Chopped Vegetable Salad with Feta and Olives * Hot Fudge Perfect Pancakes Pumpkin IceCream * Bourbon Marinated Flank Steak Roasted Chicken w/ Tomatoes & Olives * Nacho Cake Heirloom Tomato Bloody Mary Sherried Tomato Soup * Make Your Own Mini Fritatas * Braised Leg of Lamb * French Baguettes * Pumpkin and Shrimp Bisque * Pumpkin Chocolate Chips Bread * Perfect Pound Cake - Roasted Pumpkin Cheese Fondue * Chocolate Fondue * Roasted Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion Tart * Slow Cooker Cola BBQ Pulled Pork Squash and Tomato Bake * Short Rib Ragu French Apple Tart Vanilla Creme Anglaise Semolina Pasta * Cacio e Pepe (Cheese and Pepper Pasta) * Pane Siciliano * Cannnoli Ice Cream * Eggnog Ice Cream * Porkchops with Garlic and Wine Sauce - Slow Roasted Salmon Crab Imperial * Slow Roasted Rack of Lamb * denotes a dish I'll make again - denotes a dish we didn't like Top 5 of 2012 11. Spicy Whiskey BBQ Sliders 47. Cacio e Pepe 32. Sherried Tomato Soup 25. Chopped Vegetable Salad with Feta and Olives 39. Roasted Pumpkin Cheese Fondue

1. Swedish Liege Waffles 11. Spicy Whiskey BBQ Sliders 42. Slow Cooker Cola BBQ Pulled Pork 39. Roasted Pumpkin Cheese Fondue 33. Muffin Tin Mini Fritatas